Haitian national Destino Jean Louis has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of his estranged wife outside the Pennsylvania Walmart where she worked, following the breakdown of their marriage, according to court records and a statement from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
U.S. Marshals arrested Jean Louis Friday morning in Philadelphia on immigration charges related to overstaying his visa. He had obtained the visa through a relief program for Haitian nationals that has since ended. Prosecutors later filed murder charges while he remained in federal custody, authorities said.
“At 9 AM on Friday, October 23rd, Destino Jean Louis, 23, was arrested by [U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia] on the 6600 block of N. 18th St for immigration violations. Louis, a Haitian national who overstayed his visa, was the prime suspect in the October 21st fatal shooting of a 45 year-old Walmart employee who had just left her shift,” U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia said in a Monday post on X.
U.S. Marshals take Destino Jean-Louis into custody. (U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia)
Authorities identified the victim as 45-year-old Latosha Ann Cooper, whom Jean Louis had married in March. Cooper was his estranged wife. Investigators told Fox29 that immigration officials concluded the marriage was not legitimate and had been entered into solely for immigration purposes.
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Documents reviewed by Fox29 show that Cooper withdrew her petition to sponsor Jean Louis’ visa in July.
U.S. Marshals arrest Destino Jean Louis in Philadelphia. (U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia)
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Jean Louis allegedly concealed himself near a bush outside the Walmart where Cooper worked. Wearing a mask, he reportedly waited for her to finish her overnight shift, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele.
“When Cooper left the store, he ran towards her and fatally shot her,” court documents state.
Court filings also state that Jean Louis had previously worked at the same Walmart before being fired for immigration-related reasons. The documents allege that he had physically assaulted Cooper and repeatedly contacted store employees seeking information about her work schedule.
U.S. Marshals arrest Destino Jean Louis. (U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia)
Phone records further indicated that Jean Louis made multiple trips between his Philadelphia home and the Walmart in Cheltenham during the weeks before the shooting, according to prosecutors and court documents.
Jean Louis faces charges of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, illegal alien use of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license and possessing an instrument of crime, court records show.
News Media contacted the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office seeking additional information.
Jean Louis is being held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, according to court documents.